The RTS Zone

Real-time strategy games about commanding units, bases, resources, and battles.

Latest Standouts

Recent releases that landed well, newest first, filtered to games with enough reviews to trust the score.

The Crust - Players say: Build a lunar colony by mining resources, automating factories, managing settlers, and trading with Earth in a story-driven sim. Players like: Lunar Atmosphere · Factory Planning · Earth-Market Contracts ·
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Build and automate a lunar colony that Earth depends on. Mine regolith, run conveyor-and-drone factories above and below the surface, manage colonists, trade with rival Earth factions — and play a story campaign with multiple endings.

Red Rocket Defencism - You, a military officer from our great autocratic motherland, must protect our precious rockets from the evil capitalist enemy in this revolutionary base building strategy game. Bribe! Surveil! Purge! Imbibe! The end justifies the means when you have to protect our invaluable rockets!
States of Power - Command your nation's armies, economy, and diplomacy in this WWII Grand Strategy Wargame. Easy to start, hard to master and a full match fits in one session. Play singleplayer and multiplayer, or create, play and share your own custom scenarios with the built-in Scenario Editor.
Liquidation RTS - Enter the war-torn world of Veá, where sci-fi and fantasy collide in Liquidation, an immersive RTS. Lead your armies and harness powerful abilities in a high-stakes battle for Quenrium, the mysterious substance that holds Veá’s fate.
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Aug 4, 2026
91% 👍
of 173
Dear Magical Girls - Dear Magical Girls is a story-driven defense game about an overworked magical girl protecting the Mana Stone that keeps the city running. Move the vertices to reshape your magical field. Unlock modules and enchants, and build your own strategy to survive against waves of monsters.
E-Shop Tycoon - Players say: Build an online retailer from a garage: buy stock, staff warehouses, promote the shop, and expand through business milestones. Players like: Satisfying Early Growth · Humorous Story Events · Simple Management Loop ·
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Embark on an e-commerce startup journey in E-Shop Tycoon! Optimize warehouse logistics, hire and train staff, and design unique office spaces as your business grows. Handle industry events and marketing crises. Come grow your startup into an e-commerce giant!

The Gate Must Stand - Fend off brutal waves of demonic hordes in this epic fantasy tower defense survivors like! Hack and slash among the action or zoom to strategically control the battlefield. You are the city’s last line of defense, build your base, defend the gate!
D.O.T. Defence - Welcome to the frontlines! Build towers, muster armies, and conquer the map. Challenge yourself in the single-player campaign following the Chroma Wars, survive relentless waves in solo defense, or battle it out in local matches against friends and AI bots. Victory comes with the last HQ standing!
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Jun 11, 2026
85% 👍
of 222

On Sale Now

Discounted 25% or more right now, limited to well-reviewed games, steepest cuts first.

We Are The Dwarves - Players say: Lead three dwarf astronauts through hostile stone-space, pausing real-time combat to plan commands and combine their distinct abilities. Players like: Distinctive Space-Dwarf Setting · Tactical Pause Planning · Atmospheric Visuals ·
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We Are The Dwarves is a real-time tactical adventure where you take control of three Dwarven astronauts and lead them through the hordes of enemies in the depths of their Universe. Tactical Adventure Sci-Fi Space Dwarves

Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak - Players say: Lead Rachel S’jet’s desert expedition in a ground-based RTS, commanding a mobile carrier and land-air forces across Kharak. Players like: Desert Atmosphere · Campaign Story · Terrain Tactics ·
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A ground-based RTS prequel to the classic Homeworld games. Assemble your fleet and lead them to victory on the shifting sands of Kharak in this compelling strategy game for PC from Blackbird Interactive.

Distant Worlds: Universe - Players say: Guide a spacefaring empire in pausable real-time, exploring, colonizing, researching, trading, and waging war across a customizable galaxy. Players like: Deep 4X Systems · Enormous Galaxy · Empire Automation ·
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Distant Worlds is a vast, pausable real-time 4X space strategy game. Experience the full depth and detail of turn-based strategy, but with the simplicity and ease of real-time, and on the scale of a massively-multiplayer online game.  

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May 23, 2014
75% 👍
of 1.9k
Total War: WARHAMMER III - Players say: Lead a fantasy faction in a turn-based empire campaign, then command its armies in real-time battles across the Realm of Chaos. Players like: Faction Variety · Large-Scale Battles · Campaign Replayability ·
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The cataclysmic conclusion to the Total War: WARHAMMER trilogy is here. Rally your forces and step into the Realm of Chaos, a dimension of mind-bending horror where the very fate of the world will be decided. Will you conquer your Daemons… or command them?

Homeworld Remastered Collection - Players say: Command a space fleet across two RTS campaigns, researching ships and directing tactical battles in fully three-dimensional space. Players like: Atmosphere, Music, Story · Three-Dimensional Battles · Remastered Visuals ·
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Experience the epic space strategy games that redefined the RTS genre. Control your fleet and build an armada across more than 30 single-player missions. Choose unit types, fleet formations and flight tactics for each strategic situation.

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Feb 25, 2015
88% 👍
of 14k
Swords and Soldiers HD - Players say: Lead Vikings, Aztecs, or Chinese across side-view battlefields, sending troops and casting spells to destroy enemy castles. Players like: Approachable Strategy · Quick Sessions · Distinct Faction Styles ·
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Rewrite history as you take control of the brutal Vikings, the devious Aztecs or the crafty Chinese in their global quest to win the favour of the Gods! Swords & Soldiers is a side-scrolling strategy game that lets you control an entire army and lets you wield devastating magical abilities.

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Dec 2, 2010
78% 👍
of 1.1k
Soldiers: Heroes of World War II - Enhanced Edition - Players say: Command small WWII forces across 32 missions, switching between tactical orders and hands-on control of soldiers and vehicles. Players like: Childhood Nostalgia · Direct Unit Control · Destructible Battlefields ·
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The first installment in the real-time tactics series that would become known as Men of War, now refreshed and enhanced! Take command of American, British, Soviet, or German forces and fight on the battlefields of World War II in 32 single-player missions or with others in PvP and co-op sessions.

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Jul 3, 2014
86% 👍
of 1.1k
Age of History 3 - Players say: Lead a civilization from ancient history to the future, developing provinces, researching technology, and fighting for territory. Players like: Era-Spanning Sandbox · Accessible Strategy · Custom Scenario Editor ·
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Grand strategy wargame where the destiny of Civilizations rests in your hands - will they stand united under your leadership or fall divided in conflict? Journey through the entire saga of human civilization, from its earliest days to the futuristic era, crafting your legacy age by age.

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Oct 23, 2024
85% 👍
of 18k
S.W.I.N.E. HD Remaster - Players say: Command rabbit or pig armor in a no-base RTS, preserving a limited force through tactical campaigns and multiplayer battles. Players like: Rabbit-Pig Humor · No-Base Tactics · Childhood Nostalgia ·
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S.W.I.N.E. HD Remaster is the new edition of the challenging classic strategy game S.W.I.N.E! The filthiest of all wars between the Rabbit and the Pig armies is a sophisticated real-time strategy with completely revised textures, detailed unit models, a 16:9 adapted interface.

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May 23, 2019
91% 👍
of 1.3k
Bad North: Jotunn Edition - Players say: Lead small squads across a besieged island chain, positioning three troop types to repel Viking landings and protect villages. Players like: Terrain-Based Strategy · Minimalist Visual Style · Tense Tactical Challenge ·
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Bad North is a charming but brutal real-time tactics roguelite. Defend your idyllic island kingdom against a horde of Viking invaders, as you lead the desperate exodus of your people. Command your loyal subjects to take full tactical advantage of the unique shape of each island.

GUILTY GEAR 2 -OVERTURE- - Players say: Command troops, capture resource points, and fight as a 3D hero in real-time battles to destroy the opposing base. Players like: Unusual Action-Strategy Blend · Heavy-Metal Soundtrack · Guilty Gear Lore ·
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The ultimate melee action [GUILTY GEAR 2 -OVERTURE-] is now on Steam!! Pushing [Gameplay] and [Entertainment] to the extremes, with a splash of [Competitiveness] -- That's GUILTY GEAR 2 for you.

War for the Overworld - Players say: Build an underground dungeon, manage monstrous minions and defenses, and repel heroes in a strategy-management campaign. Players like: Dungeon Keeper Feel · Dungeon Building · Humorous Narration ·
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War for the Overworld is an unholy union of Dungeon Management and Strategy that rewards all those villainous thoughts you’ve been having. Craft your own perilous dungeon and defend it against pesky heroes who keep exploring it and taking your stuff.

Hidden Gems

Well-liked but under-played: strong scores, small review counts.

ShellMobile: Titan Rampart - On the cosmic frontier, humanity has fought alien species for a century. As traditional defenses fall to new-gen alien mechs, tech giant ShellMobile—human-centered at its core—kindles new hope via breakthroughs in extraterrestrial titanium ore research.
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Dec 31, 2025
98% 👍
of 183
Creeper World: Anniversary Edition - Players say: Build an energy-and-weapons network across each map, holding back a spreading fluid enemy as you advance toward mission goals. Players like: Unique Fluid Enemy · Map-Based Strategy · Satisfying Defense Building ·
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Imagine an enemy that is everywhere and moves like a giant, organic mass across the map. Imagine your base and your people surrounded by a blanket of crushing destruction from all directions. Your only hope, well what hope? Then you take the high ground and pound this enemy into oblivion.

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Nov 16, 2016
97% 👍
of 983
Bahamut2-dragon's bride - Players say: After sealing Bahamut again, Clear grows up for a second time and sets out on a fantasy RPG adventure of class-building and combat. Players like: Enjoyable Combat · Skill Discovery · Class Flexibility ·
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When Clear sealed Bahamut again, he grew up for the second time and still aspires to become an adventurer. What awaits him is a more magnificent adventure story, and everyone is welcome to experience it.

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Sep 30, 2021
97% 👍
of 595
BURGGEIST - With the walking fortress Burggeist at your command, fight back the enemies and build "the Tower."
Cube Chaos - Players say: Place ability-driven cubes, build interacting armies and defenses, and adapt your strategy against an opposing force each run. Players like: Unexpected Cube Synergies · Creative Run Builds · High Replay Variety ·
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Cube Chaos is a complex strategy roguelike about placing units to create giant armies, factories, combos, or self replicating murder crabs, overwhelming and outsmarting your opponents. Build and adapt new strategies each run using a ludicrous variety of units, perks and more.

Medieval II: Total War™ Kingdoms - Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms is the official expansion to last year's award-winning Medieval II: Total War, presenting players with all-new territories to explore, troops to command, and enemies to conquer.
Rift Riff - Jump a rift, fight off monsters, plunder their world. A strategic mix of juicy tower loadouts, varied monster behaviors, and forgiving mechanics.
Outlive 25 - Build your base, prepare your troops, and face your most epic battle yet in this old-school real-time strategy game. Choose between two factions, test your skills in three epic campaigns and engage in online battles with up to 16 players simultaneously.
Hegemony Gold: Wars of Ancient Greece - Conquer the ancient Greek world in Hegemony Gold: Wars of Ancient Greece, an epic strategy wargame that expands and refines the award-winning Hegemony: Philip of Macedon with brand new content and features.
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Mar 30, 2012
95% 👍
of 226
Giants: Citizen Kabuto - Before man climbed down from the trees to shop in megastores and drink cappuccino, before the Earth wadded itself into a ball, there was the Island. A fragment from a long-lost planet. Upon the surface of this paradise wandered Kabuto the giant. Little does he know, it was home to others before him.
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Dec 2, 2016
95% 👍
of 214
Banana Drama - Banana Drama is an indie RTS game. It offers a singleplayer and online multiplayer experience. Your monkey king is held captive by evil dinos - he needs help! Be part of the banana crew and join us on Discord!
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Mar 29, 2026
95% 👍
of 211

Top Rated

Defining examples of the genre, all rated 85%+ across 1,000+ reviews.

STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack - Players say: Lead Rebel, Imperial, or underworld forces across a galactic map, then command real-time space and ground battles. Players like: Active Modding Community · Cinematic Space Battles · Galactic Strategy Map ·
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Command or corrupt an entire galaxy in the definitive Star Wars strategy collection. It is a time of galactic civil war. Will you take up the reins of the Rebellion, assume control of the Empire, or rule the Star Wars Underworld?

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May 25, 2010
98% 👍
of 43k
Age of Empires II (Retired) - Players say: Lead a medieval civilization in real time: gather resources, build settlements, advance through ages, and command armies in campaigns or matches. Players like: Childhood Nostalgia · Strategic Depth · Replayable Matches ·
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Age of Empires II has been re-imagined in high definition. With the release of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, this product will not be updated further.

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun - Players say: Lead five Edo-era specialists through stealth missions, combining unique skills and synchronized plans to evade or eliminate guards. Players like: Tactical Puzzle Solving · Distinct Specialist Abilities · Multiple Mission Routes ·
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Shadow Tactics is a hardcore tactical stealth game set in Japan around the Edo period. A new Shogun seizes power over Japan and enforces nationwide peace. In his battle against conspiracy and rebellion, he recruits five specialists with extraordinary skills for assassination, sabotage and espionage.

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Dec 6, 2016
96% 👍
of 38k
Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition - Players say: Lead a medieval faction, grow its cities and armies on a turn-based map, then command real-time battles for territory. Players like: Long-Term Replayability · Extensive Mod Support · Tactical Real-Time Battles ·
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Spanning the most turbulent era in Western history, your quest for territory and power takes you through Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and even onto the shores of the New World.

Mindustry - Players say: Mine resources, automate supply chains, and build defenses and armies to hold sectors or capture enemy bases across two campaigns. Players like: Factory Optimization · Automation-RTS Blend · Long Campaigns ·
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An open-ended factory management game with RTS and tower defense elements.

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Sep 26, 2019
96% 👍
of 28k
Stronghold HD (2012) - Players say: Build a medieval English stronghold, manage its people and economy, then defend your walls or lead sieges against rival lords. Players like: Castle Building · Economy And Warfare · Nostalgic Classic ·
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The original castle sim, Stronghold HD allows you to design, build and destroy historical castles. Engage in medieval warfare against the AI in one of two single player campaigns or online with up to 8 players.

Rusted Warfare - RTS - Players say: Build a base, grow your economy, and command land, air, and sea forces in large real-time battles against AI or other players. Players like: Workshop Mods · Large-Scale Battles · Easy to Learn ·
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{{An RTS inspired by the classics of the past!}} Making up for it's subpar retro graphics with fun gameplay and modern multi-threaded tech enabling huge battles to run smooth... Featuring singleplayer challenges, skirmish, sandbox, 10-player multiplayer & workshop modding.

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Jul 14, 2017
96% 👍
of 7.6k
Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal - Players say: Build an energy-linked defense across mutable terrain and push back a spreading liquid enemy before it engulfs your base. Players like: Liquid Enemy Concept · Satisfying Expansion · Community Map Variety ·
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Creeper World 3 is what happens when cellular automata takes over a strategy simulation. Instead of discrete units that attack your base, a fluid-like substance spreads over the terraformable terrain. Your base, your weapons, your strategy... you must adapt them all.

R.U.S.E.™ - Players say: Command WWII armies in a real-time strategy game where base-building, battlefield control, and deception cards shape each fight. Players like: Deception Tactics · Strategic Variety · Zoomable Battlefield ·
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A one-of-a-kind real-time strategy game that allows players to bluff their enemies to lead their nation to victory. The Definitive Edition — includes all DLCs and Steam Deck support.

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Sep 9, 2010
96% 👍
of 4.6k
Total Annihilation - Players say: Command the Arm or Core in a sci-fi RTS, building an economy and armies for battles across land, sea, and air. Players like: Strategic Army Building · Large-Scale Battles · Land, Sea, Air Units ·
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What began as a conflict over the transfer of consciousness from flesh to machines escalated into a war which has decimated a million worlds. The Core and the Arm have all but exhausted the resources of a galaxy in their struggle for domination.

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Dec 18, 2015
96% 👍
of 3.8k
Impossible Creatures Steam Edition - Players say: Lead Rex Chance through island battles, building animal hybrids and commanding them in a resource-driven real-time strategy war. Players like: Animal Creature Mixing · Custom Army Strategy · Nostalgic Memories ·
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Impossible Creatures is a 3D RTS game that pits the player against an evil villain. Using Earth’s most formidable animals as building blocks, the player must create an army of genetically-altered mutant monsters in a titanic struggle to protect an unsuspecting world.

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Nov 11, 2015
96% 👍
of 1.8k
From Glory To Goo - Players say: Build a human colony on a hostile alien planet, expand for resources, and defend against waves of shape-shifting Goo. Players like: Colony Horde Defense · Distinct Faction Playstyles · Replayable Maps and Modes ·
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From Glory To Goo is a Sci-Fi survival RTS set on an alien world. Serve as humanity's bulwark by establishing a colony and supporting your colonists still in orbit. But beware, for The Goo, a relentless and shape-shifting force approaches from all sides, even above and below.